Carcassonne: Secrets of the Castle's Defense Self-Guided Tour

How do you stop an army of 20,000 men? Carcassonne had an answer: double walls, more than one thousand arrow slits, and a narrow corridor between the ramparts designed as a killing zone. This self-guided audio walking tour takes you inside the engineering of Europe's largest medieval fortress, from Roman foundations to the siege that brought down the Cathars. You will walk the spaces between the walls where invaders were trapped, stand where Dame Carcas fooled Charlemagne with a single pig, examine how arrow slits gave defenders a lethal advantage, and end at the Basilica of Saint Nazaire with its remarkable stained glass. The tour plays on the Tourific app (iOS and Android), works entirely offline once downloaded, and is available in nine languages. Start anytime, pause whenever you like, and go at your own pace, no fixed schedule, no group to keep up with. Over 20,000 travelers have used our self-guided tours. The tour comes with a full refund guarantee.

1. 1

   Carcassonne Center

   1 hour

   Kick off your adventure at Porte Narbonnaise, walk along the Lices to discover the castle's defense mechanisms, and wrap up your tour by visiting the beautiful Basilique Saint Nazaire.

2. 2

   Stop 2

   10 min

   A castle inside a castle, with its own moat, drawbridge, and murder holes.

3. 3

   Eglise Saint-nazaire

   20 min

   A blend of Romanesque shadow and Gothic light, with stained glass

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.